Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan
‘A Captivating Classic’
Housekeepers are powerful figures that play a pivotal role in shaping families. Everyone has fond memories of housekeepers that played a role in shaping their identity. At an early age, I formed a strong bond with a housekeeper that delivered an inspiring message. A housekeeper that was dedicated to performing every chore, she was a person that my family had grown to adore. She would always pour both her heart and soul into performing every chore. Dedicated to putting food on the table, she was a person my family considered special. Through her strong drive, she was always dedicated to making my family’s dreams come true. Shining a bright light in darkness, she contributed towards my family’s happiness. Being a devoted housemaid, she dedicated herself towards her job regardless of how much money she would be paid. Several years later, I’ve grown to treasure the powerful memories of a housekeeper that changed my life forever.
As someone reminiscing joyous memories of a housekeeper my entire family came to admire, I adored “Mrs. Doubtfire”. Ever since its release in 1994, Chris Columbus’ film has stood the test of time as a classic that audiences adore. Columbus’ movie is a heartfelt tribute towards housekeepers that play a role shaping children’s futures. Packed with breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made about housekeepers. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from Robin Willians, who embodies a divorced father that dresses up as a housekeeper. Unlike most movies made in the 1990’s, it has aged beautifully. Ultimately, the film delivers a powerful message that would resonate with everyone forming bonds with housekeepers at an early age. A captivating classic, there are several strong reasons why “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a film that’s definitely worth watching.
“Mrs. Doubtfire” tells a story of a divorced dad that dresses up as a housemaid to spend time with is children. Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard, a reckless father which enjoys fooling around with children. Daniel’s dreams to build a stable future for his children are destroyed when he becomes the victim of a divorce. Frustrated by her reckless behaviour, Daniel’s wife Miranda (Sally Field) makes the choice to separate from him. Facing a stressful situation, Daniel is given only once a week to spend in custody with his children. However, Daniel’s life forever changes when he dresses up as a housekeeper to spend time with his family. Adopting the identity of Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel cherishes the chance to spend time with family. As Daniel’s secret identity threatens to be revealed, he questions whether he can repair broken bonds with family.
Chris Columbus is a newcomer towards stories of housekeepers. Before he directed “Mrs. Doubtfire”, Columbus has never directed a film about housekeepers. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of housekeepers securing children’s futures, but he succeeded immensely. Through stunning cinematography, Columbus captures a divorced dad dressing up as a housekeeper to spend time with his family. Columbus expertly uses montages to capture a dad seeking to become a housekeeper. For instance, montages elevate the telephone conversation scene. During this memorable scene, Daniel engages in a phone call conversation seeking to be hired as a housekeeper by his family. One admires montages capturing the lives of housekeepers. It brought back fond memories of my housekeeper which was always dedicated to providing for my family. Through engrossing visuals, Columbus captures cross-dressing housekeepers that are engaging.
Another admirable aspect of “Mrs. Doubtfire” is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well-made. Columbus expertly uses makeup to capture the life of a cross-dressing housekeeper. It’s not easy to create drag roles in movies. Drag roles always pose challenges for filmmakers. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Columbus effectively uses makeup to capture a dad dressing up as a housekeeper to spend time with children. For instance, makeup elevates the introduction scene. During this strong scene, the children are introduced for the first time to Mrs. Doubtfire. One admires makeup bringing to life housekeepers which engage in cross-dressing. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Howard Shore’s music gives the movie a heartfelt atmosphere capturing burden housekeepers bear. Through stunning production-design, Columbus captures the lives of housekeepers that shine.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Mrs. Doubtfire” remains a classic which audiences admire. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses tragicomedy to capture the strong bonds between housekeepers and children. Throughout the movie, tragicomedy represents Mrs. Doubtfire’s strong bond with children she has grown to admire. At times, the film is solemn especially in scenes depicting the harsh consequences of divorce on children. However, the film is also lighthearted and hilarious in its portrayal of a dad dressing up as a housekeeper. Through this tragicomedy, Columbus creates a housekeeper audiences can easily relate to. For instance, tragicomedy elevates the thankful scene. During this unforgettable scene, Mrs. Doubtfire is thanked by Lydia for providing for her family after a meeting. One admires sequences of silence capturing the bonds between children and housekeepers. It reminded me of my strong bond with a housemaid I appreciated that was committed. Tragicomedy is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting” suggested, tragicomedy elevates coming-of-age movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through a spectacular screenplay, Columbus captures the essential roles commemorated housekeepers play in impacting the lives of children that are troubled today.
One admires astonishing performances.
Robin Williams delivers one of his best career performances as Mrs. Doubtfire. Williams first earned appreciation for playing teachers that motivate students to seize the day. With “Mrs. Doubtfire”, however, he took on his first cross-dressing role. It isn’t easy to embody the life of a divorced dad dressing up as a housekeeper, but he succeeded tremendously. With captivating expressions, Williams captures the angst, desperation and reckless behaviour of a dad that dresses up as a cross-dressing housekeeper to spend precious time with his family. It’s a commemorated role that gave the actor an opportunity to showcase natural charisma. It’s a powerful performance from one of the world’s greatest movie-stars that’s no longer with us today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Sally Field is superb, capturing dilemma of a mother struggling to take care of children following a devastating divorce disaster. Lisa Jakob is extraordinary, capturing the persona of a teenage girl that mourns the sad absence of her father causing trauma. Lastly, Pierce Brosnan is phenomenal. As Miranda’s boyfriend, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “Mrs. Doubtfire” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing housekeepers which children admire. Unlike most movies made in the 1990’s, it tackles universal themes everyone would identify with. The film tackles universal themes including divorce, family and identity which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message which would strike a chord with everyone that has shared a bond with housekeepers at an early age. As a person sharing a bond with my past housekeeper, I identified deeply with the movie’s message. Therefore, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is one of those rare movies that everyone would admire.
Fans of Robin Williams will definitely appreciate “Mrs. Doubtfire” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating classic, it captures the pivotal roles housekeepers play in shaping children’s well-being.
Nearly 30 years following the release of an iconic film about divorced dads in stressful situations dressing up as housekeepers under the alias Mrs. Doubtfire, it’s a phenomenal reminder of the commendable roles that housekeepers play in shaping the lives of children from one of the world’s greatest actors whose commemorated movies I will forever admire several years after he passed away in deaths that proved to be dire.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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